Ice making apparatus



c. E. LANGGAARD 2,287,255

ICE MAKING APPARATUS June 23, 1942.

Filed June 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l EQEEZAQEQE 1N VEN TOR.

June 23, 1942. c. E. LANGGAARD 2,287,255

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' June 1942 c. E. LANGGAARD 2,

ICE MAKING APPARATUS I Filed June 15, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY all ab June C. E. LANGGAARD ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed June 13, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -EIE 1 l $0715 5, umvm if V 4 A g I Patented June 23,1942

HIE MAKING APPARATUS Carl E. Langgaard, Mineola, N. Y., assignor to George G. Sloan, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 13, 1941, Serial No. 397,90'i (Cl. 62-105) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for making ice of the type in which the ice is formed in separate containers which are supported within a rotating housing or barrel through which a suitable refrigerant is caused to circulate and partly fill so that the containnovel features of construction, arrangement and operation whereby to produce ice quickly, economically and with a minimum of manual labor.

The invention is embodied in a machine having a barrel formed housing which is supported to be rotated. The barrel supports a number of ice containers or cans which are arranged in sets and disposedradially and longitudinally within the barrel with relation to the axis of rotation thereof- The containers are accessible from the outside for filling with water and for the discharge of the ice. A refrigerant is circulated through the barrel and partly fills the same. The refrigerant is also sprayed upon the containers. After having been used as a freezing agent the refrigerant is. used to precool the supplyof water which is filled into the containers and'thereafter the refrigerant is used as a thawing agent to cause the ice to be released from the containerstobedischarged. Other objects of the invention relate to'improved means for opening and closing the containers, means for regulating the flow of the refrigerant within the barrel and novel arrangements of the ice containers to provide an economical apparatus adaptable for use in various industries and for various purposes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention is embodied in an apparatus for making ice arranged and constructed as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying-drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a general diagrammatic view of the entire apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine itself with parts in section and parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the mechanism for locking and unlocking the container covers.

Fig. 4'is a side view of the machine partly in section and partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an ice can or container andshows a portion of the bottom supporting means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a side view partly in section and partly broken away of the container cover, locking means and air release.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the use 1 -of baflies within the barrel to regulate the flow ;of the refrigerant therein.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 10 of a machine in outline showing a different arrangement of ice containers and spray pipes and a modified driving means.

Fig. 10 is a vertical central sectionalview of the machine shown in Fig. 9. 1

Referring to Fig. 1 the numeral I denotes the machinebarrelwithin which there are supported anumber of ice containers 2 arranged around a centralhollow shaft 3 which supports the barrel so that it may be rotated., The containers are filled with water from an overhead watermeasuring tank 4 having individual containers 5, one for each ice container. The' water tank may have individual valve controlled outlets 6, the valves of which may be simultaneously operated bya handle. I. The measuring tank 4 receives water through piping 3 from a precooling wa ter tank 9 connected to the local water supply at Hi. When the tank I is filled to the proper water level a float valve II is actuatedto shut off the water supply from the tank 9'.

.' The barrel I is provided with a system of re- I frigerant supply pipes l2 'explained in detail hereinafter. The refrigerant is contained within a cooler l3 and is supplied from a compressor H from which it is led to a condenser l5 supplied with cooling water through a pipe IS. The condensed refrigerant then passes to aliquefler l1 and through an expansion valve 18 to the evaporating coil I9 within the cooler l3. From the latter the refrigerant is pumped by a pump 20 through a pipe 2| to the hollow shaft 3, then into the piping system l2 and the barrel. The refrigerant or brine is withdrawn from the barrel through holes 22 in the shaft 3 and is returned to the cooler l3 through pipes 23. A plug 24in the shaft 3 separates the incoming brin'e from. the return circuit. During this circulation of the refrigerant the valves 25 and 26 a" closed.

'When the icehas been formed in the ,ontainer s the valves 25 and 26 are opened and the valves 21 and 28 are closed. The refrigerant, which is now at a higher temperature, is pumped from the barrel up through the valve 25 to a coil .29 in the precooling tank 9 and back through the valve 26 to the barrel. Thus the water in the v tank 9 is precooled before passing to the measuringtank 4. The refrigerant is now at a still higher temperature sufficient to thaw the ice in the containers so that it may be released and insure tight closure.

discharged. The barrel is rotated by a driven gear 36 from a driving pinion 3| on a driven shaft 32.

The foregoing describes a general system for supplying the barrel with water and refrigerant.

The word brine will be used. hereafter for the sake of brevity. It is illustrative only in its general arrangement and elements. The water supply means are of advantage in that thereby one may besure of filling the containers quickly and evenly. Referring now to Figs. 2-7 the machine is shown as having the barrel formed tank 5 consisting of two end walls 35, 35 and an octagonally formed shell 36. These parts are secured together by suitable reinforcements. stiffening and supporting members generally indicated as at 86. The barrel is supported upon and rotates with the hollow shaft 3. Such usual necessary elements as stufiing boxes, bearings and other mechanical parts are not illustrated because they are matters of common engineering knowledge. The ice containers 2 will preferably be in the form of individual slightly tapered cans as shown in Fig. 5. Each can will be provided with one or more chambers 31 to hasten the freezing process the cans being filled with water. The can may be strengthened by a band 38 and may rest "on a packing 39 to prevent the cans from shaking and loosening the gaskets used at the top to The can has a flange 46 at the top,Figs. 6 and 7, which overlies the shell 36 with a gasket 42 between. The can is closed by a cover 4| having another gasket 42. The cover is suspended by a pin 43 froma link 44 which is loosely fulcrummed on the cover shaft 45. Below the link 44 there is another link 46 which is fixed on the shaft 45. A bolt 41 fast in the lower link 46 passes upwards through the upper link 44 and carries a spring 48 which is adjustable by a nut 46. A finger 56 on a locking shaft 51 engages the lower link 46. After the cover has been closed upon the can the shaft 5| is turned clockwise to lock the cover in position. Thereafter the spring is adjusted to press the cover down firmly on the can. Thus each cover may be individually adjusted at the proper pressure to insure tight closing of the cans. Aft- This is of course an important element to insure I to provide tight closure the shaft 5| carries an as shown. The arm 51 is tipped clockwise in Fig. 6 to permit the valve to open. Alongside the shaft there is an air release shaft 66 which carries a lug 6| in engagement with the arm 51 to keep the valve closed. The shaft 66 has an operating arm 62 connected to a push rod 63 supported on the end of the barrel, Fig. 2. At its lower end the push rod is pivotally connected to a lever 64 which is fulcrummed at 65 on the end wall 35 and which carries a roller 66 which runs on a stationary cam 61 suitably supported, for instance upon an upright bearing for supporting the shaft 3, see Fig. l. The air. valves are normally closed. However, when the rod 63 comes into the position shown in Fig. 2 the roller 66 rides up upon a high part of the cam 61 so that the rod is lifted to tip the air release shaft 66 to actuate the arms 51 to open the row of valves at that point. This happens when the air is at the highest part 0! the can where it is best to remove it. A spring 63 on the push rod keeps the roller 66 upon the cam.

The shafts 56, 45 and 66 are supported in bearings 16 distributed along the barrel, Fig. 4. Stops 12, Fig. 6, may be provided in any desirable manner to limit the swing of the covers when they open. open andclose the covers by means of a handwheel 13; Fig. 4. The cover locking shaft 5| is operated by another wheel 15, Fig. 3. In order arm 16 connected to thewheel 15 by a link 11. Fig. 3 shows the locking finger 56 in locked position down on the cover 4|. When the latter is to be opened the wheel is turnedcounterclockwise. At the end of theclosing movement the V link 11 is slightly past dead center so that the freedom from leaks of waterfrom the cans. The 3 cover structure is the same for each can and is I shown only in one place in Fig. 4 and also in Fig. 2. In the 'latter figure the outlines of the cover structure is repeated around the barrel to show the general arrangement.

The brine supply piping system within the barrel may be arranged to suit for greatest efiiciency. As shown in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4 there may be four radially disposed pipes l2 leading from the pipe shaft 3 outwards and connected to four longitudinal pipes 52 within the barrel. Spray branch pipes 53 may then be arranged as shown so at to cover the cans with sprays of brine through outlets 54.

The cans will be filled with water to within a short distance from the top to allow for expansion as the ice is formed. As the freezing process progresses the air inthe can rises to the top and must be removed. This is done by providing an air release valve 56 in each cover 4|, Fig. 6. Opposite each air valve there is pivoted upon the shaft 45 a valve actuating arm 51 loose --on the shaft. The arm is connected to the valve finger 56 is kept tightly in locked position. The released ice cake slides out from the can onto a slide 16 having a hinged lip 66, Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows. The barrel is rotated stepwise to bring a row of cans or containers under the water measuring tank 4 to be filled with water. The covers are open at this time. The stepwise operation may be done by means of a mutilated gear 62 which is shifted into mesh with the driving gear 36, Fig. 1, by clutching means as at 83. This or any other suitable driving and stopping mechanism will be timed so that the barrel comes to rest while a row of containers are being filled with water. Then the covers are closed and locked and the barrel moved another step and so on. It is of course understood that the several operating mechanisms described above are repeated for each container and the rows thereof. When all the containers are filled the driving pinion 3| is shifted to drive the gear 36. The barrel now rotates and the containers are moved through the brine while the brine circuit is operating. The barrel will normally be filled with brine to stand slightly above the shaft 3. During the rotation the containers are being constantly sprayed with brine and the ice is quickly formed. When the freezing operation is finished, the valves in the pipe clr cuits are operated as described under Fig. l and the brine then functions as a thawing agent. When the ice cakes in the containers have been thawed sufilciently the continuous rotation of the barrel is stopped and the stepwise rotation begun. The barrel is then stopped in the position in Fig. 2 and the lip 66 of the chute will be lifted by any suitable means. Then the covers in the row alined with the chute are opened and the ice cakes slide out and are removed. Then the lip The cover shaft 45 is rotated to the other brine.

coldest brine in the outer space 90 in the barrel.

80 is lowered, thebarrel; rotated another step, the next row of containers opened and so on. The covers remain open until the row ofcontainers arrive in water receiving positionyvhere they are filled and the operation is repeated.

It will be seen that very little manuallabor is required to operate the machine. Due to the arrangement ofspraying brine pipes, the passage Iclaim:

1. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barl V rel, a plurality of freezing containers, means for of the containers through the free brine and the agitation of the water as the containers are rotated, the ice forms very quickly.

In order to operate the machine with the greatest efficiency it is desirable that the flow of brine within the barrel" be regulated to insure that the incoming cool brine does not immediately mix with the brine already in the. barrel. The latter may therefore be provided with partitioning members or'baflles for regulating the flow of brine. This'is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8 in which plates of sheet material 85 are secured-to the structural members 86 of 'the barrel at the bottoms of the containers to extend between them. An outer ring of similar plates 81 will also be provided and similarly supported. The fittings of these plates 85 and '81 will purposely be made leaky at the corners and joints. r regular small openings may be provided. The

purpose and function of these baflles will be thatv as the cold brine falls upon the containers and flows down the same, a considerable-portion will be caught in pockets 89 formed by flanges; 88 of the plates. and will then be carried around and mix with There' will thus 'be a flow of Also cold brine will flow into thespaces 9i and the brine here will be warmer. Finally the brine will be at its highest temperature in the central space 92 from which it is removed. While there is a general mixing of the brine in the barrel, yet it will be clear that by providing separate brine spaces it is possible to insure that the brine I nearest the shell of the barrel will be cooler than the brine in the central portion and this in turn results in quicker formation of ice and greater efiiciency.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the machine there is constructed and operated as described above with the following modifications. The ice containers (00 may be shaped difierently for.

economy in space. Thecirculating pipes are stationary and consist of the supply pipe IM and spray pipes I02. The return is made by the pipe I03 with branches I04 dipp into the free brine, the level of which is indicated in the drawings. The end walls of the barrel have openings I05 for the passage of the pipes. The cans may be supported between the barrel shell I06 and cen- 'ter supports I01. as shown. .The barrel carries-a gear I08 which is driven by another gear I 09 suitably located and supported. At the ends the barrel has guiderings IIO which run on rollers III. In this form of the machine there is considerable saving in space and economy in driving. An obvious modification, not shown, will be to close one of the openings I05 and have the pipe circuit enter and leave at one end.

The brine is coolest at these points supporting the same within said barrel arranged radially about the axis of rotation of the barrel and in rows parallel to said axis, saidcontainers opening outwards from said barrel, an individual cover for each container hinged to said barrel, means for opening andclosing all the covers in a row of containersat one time, means forindividually adjusting the closure of the covers on the containers, means for applying a refrigerant externally of the containers within the bar rel, means for rotating said barrel and means 1 including means for rotating said barrel stepwise to bring said containers into a predetermined water receiving position, one row of con-- tainers at a time.

5. In an ice making apparatus, a freezing con tainer, anhinged cover therefor, means for closing said cover upon said container with an adjusted pressure to insure tight closure of the container by said cover and other means for opening and closing said cover without altering said adjusted closure.-

6. In a ice making apparatus, a plurality of I freezing containers, a hinged cover for each containenmeans for closing each cover with an in- Y dividually adjustedv pressure to insure tight closure of the containers and other means for opening and closinga given number of said covers without altering the said individually adjusted closures of the containers.

' 7. In an ice making apparatus, a plurality of freezing containers, a cover for each container,

an air release valve ineach cover and means for simultaneously and automatically opening said release valves in a selected number or coversv to release the air from the containers closed by said number of covers.

8. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel, a plurality of freezing containers, means for supporting the latter in spaced relation with in said barrelin rows parallel to the axis of rotation thereof and in sets arranged radially about said axis, said containers opening outwards from said barrel, a system of pipes secured to the bar- The apparatus herein disclosed is susceptible of changes and alterations in the different parts and arrangement. The apparatus lends itself readily to building in different sizes and capacities by merely lengthening or shortening of the barrel without thereby materially changing the construction.

rel for circulating a refrigerant therethrough and between said containers, said system of pipes including a pipe shaft for supporting and rotating said barrel, means for filling the containers with water, means'for rotating the said pipe shaft stepwise to stop a row of containers in water receiving position to be filled, a hinged cover for each container, means for adjusting each cover for tight closure upon its container, means on said barrel for opening and closing a row of covers at one time without altering the said adjusted closure, an airoutlet valve communicating with each container and means on said barrel for simultaneously and automatically- -opening all the air" valves in a row of covers when said containers have been moved into a given position whereby to release the air from the top of the containers.

9. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel a plurality of freezing containers therein, means for filling said containers with water to be frozen, means for applying a refrigerant within the barrel externally of said containers to freeze the water therein, and means for circulating the refrigerant from said barrel through said water supply to precool the same and for thereafter again applying said refrigerant to said containers to thaw the ice therein sufficiently to release the ice from the containers.

municating with the container beneath the cover,

' a shaft on'said barrel for each row' of valves,

10. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel, freezing containers secured in said bar rel and disposed radially in rows about the axis of rotation of the barrel parallel thereto, means above the barrel for supplying water to the containers, means for applying a refrigerant within the barrel externally of the containers to freeze the water therein, an ice removing chute for receiving ice discharged from the containers, means for continuously rotating the barrel during the freezing operation, means for thereafter rotating the barrel stepwise to position a row of containers in water receiving position and simultaneously therewith position another row of containers in ice discharging position opposite said chute, covers for thecontainers and means for opening all the covers in said other row to discharge the ice therefrom and for closing all the covers in the row of containers in said water receiving position.

11. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel, freezing containers therein disposed radially in rows about the axis ofrotation of said barrel and parallel thereto, individual covers for said container, an air valve in each cover commeans on said shaft engaging said valves to open the same, a fixed cam supported adjacent one end of said barrel and means actuated by said cam and connected to each of said shafts for rotating the latter to cause said valves to be open to release air from the top of the containers.

12. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel, freezing containers therein in spaced relation,-means for supplying a refrigerant to said barrel, a system of. pipes supported within the barrel for distributing and spraying the refrig-' erant upon said containers, said pipes being located circumferentially adjacent the shell of the barreL'and baflie members in said barrel supported to form substantially circular spaces therein to regulate the flow of the refrigerant within the barrel as and for the-purpose described.

13.An ice making apparatus according to' claim 12 including flanges on said baiiie members to form pockets for catching portions of the refrigerant as and for the purpose described.

14. In an ice making apparatus, a rotatable barrel, a plurality of containers, means for supporting the same within the barrel circumferentially and longitudinally of the axis of rota-' tion of said barrel, said containers opening outwards from the barrel, removable covers for the containers secured'to the barrel, a fixed system of pipes extending into said barrel to apply refrigerant externally of said containers and circulate said refrigerant externally of said containers through the barrel and means for rotating the barrel.

CARL E. LANGGAARD. 

